And so to our 3rd away match of the season. Our victory over Derby in the FA Cup seems a long time ago (nearly three years). Back then the Rams were two divisions above us and despite the two clubs’ contrasting fortunes since then, we’ll need to summon up some of the spirit of that great afternoon if we want to take anything from this match.
As a city, Derby wears its industrial heritage with pride, as evidenced by a road named after Frank Whittle, who invented the jet engine. It’s a place that’s long been associated with engineering – Rolls Royce in particular – and with railway manufacturing. Despite this, it seems to have avoided becoming as grim as some of the comparable towns in the West Midlands. That’s not to suggest that it’s a major tourist draw, just to say that it has a reasonable centre with most of the amenities you’d expect from a place of this size.
Eating/drinking
One of the best places to go is a pub called ‘Fat Cats’, which is on Friargate, just next to Derby Gaol. There are plenty of tables, and a comprehensive menu of basic grub (including a good value all day breakfast). They also have newspapers to hand so you can catch up with all the latest while you wait for your bangers and mash.
There is also an above average Wetherspoons - ‘The Standing Order’ - in the centre of town. I have been in it a few times and it’s quite good.
For more cafes and bars – have a look down Sadlergate and Friargate.
Shopping
There are some good shops in Derby, if that’s how you want to spend your time before the match. There are the usual high street names, including a branch of Debenhams, but if you want something a bit different, then go down Sadlergate or Irongate. There’s a branch of ‘Bookthrift’ on Sadlergate which, if you haven’t heard about it, offers a good collection of books (contemporary and classics) at lower prices than you’d find in the main shops. Sadlergate is also home to Derby’s smarter clothes shops.
There’s also a shopping centre just opposite the bus station, off the picturesquely named Cock Pitt roundabout.
Arts/cultural
Derby Museum and Art Gallery – located on ‘The Strand’, in the city centre - is also highly recommended. It's not terribly conspicuous – you enter it via the museum shop. Fittingly enough it’s got the best public collection of Joseph Wright (of Derby) paintings anywhere in the world, and admission is free. The museum, and the Wright collection in particular, was the subject of a recent feature in the Guardian. Several of Wright’s paintings are depictions of scientific experiments and have been described as ‘unique documents of the Enlightenment’, so there you are.
There’s also a (quite separate) Industrial Museum in Sowter Road, next to Silk Mill Park. I don’t have a great deal of information about this museum, but I believe it’s largely devoted to engineering. Admission is free.
Accommodation etc
Whilst we're not in a postion to recommend particular hotels etc, we were contacted by a company called Lonsdale Travel, who are based in Derby. They can organise match ticket and accommodation packages for Derby home games. Unfortunately, with all the uncertainty over whether Saturday's game would go ahead as planned, it's a bit too late for this season's away League game. However, if you plan on visiting Derby again (another Cup game, perhaps?!), you could contact them. They also do other packages, some football-related.
